Dock Bug (Coreus marginatus) early stage nymph. Wherever there is dock (Rumex) you are bound to spot a few of these living on it, feeding on the fruits and seeds. They pass through five stages before becoming an adult as in the last image. Double-click to get closer still …
Copyright: Peter Hillman
Camera used: Nikon D7200
Date taken: 7th July 2019
Place: Local field, Staffordshire
Dock Bug Coreus marginatus – also called the Squashbug.
Click and click again on the image to get that little bit closer …
June 2019, woodland margin, Staffordshire, England. © Pete Hillman.
I have featured this extraordinary ‘bug’ before in a previous post, and you can learn more about it there if you wish to: Dock Leaf Bug. However, please note the two converging lobes on the nose in the second image down. This is diagnostic of this species.
When I came across several of them this morning on a local woodland margin, I also saw two instars which can be seen below. Note the differences between the adult on the left and the final instar on the right in the image directly underneath.
Below is a mid instar, and comparisons can be made between the two stages with the final instar above.
August 2017, Staffordshire, England.
Nature Journeys 